Chapter 166: Everyone Can Learn

"Following the formula you provided, we have completed small-scale testing, and the results... are shocking." Wu Zhe led Li Mingyuan toward a sealed display cabinet, inside which lay several fragments of metal containers.

"This is the comparative test we conducted using 100 grams of fuel," Wu Zhe pointed to a severely deformed steel plate, "on the left is the effect of traditional explosives, and on the right is the effect of the Cloud-Explosive Mixture. The difference is clear at a glance."

Li Mingyuan inspected the steel plate and nodded with satisfaction: "How is the stability of the mixture? Have there been any instances of accidental ignition?"

"Exactly as you predicted, it only detonates under specific conditions; the safety is much higher than we anticipated." Wu Zhe paused, his voice dropping, "However, regarding the submunition fuse for the Cluster Bomb... we have encountered difficulties."

Li Mingyuan nodded in understanding: "Miniaturization is the key challenge. Traditional fuses are too bulky to be fitted into submunitions."

"That's right," Wu Zhe led Li Mingyuan toward another workbench,

"According to your design drawings, the fuse needs to be as small as a thumb, yet still maintain sufficient sensitivity and safety, which in our view is an almost impossible task."

Li Mingyuan took a small box from his pocket and opened it to reveal over a dozen micro-devices neatly arranged inside:

"These are samples I made by hand last night, micro-fuses based on the piezoelectric effect; they lack the complex mechanical structure of traditional fuses, but their reliability is higher."

Wu Zhe carefully picked one up and observed it under a magnifying glass, an expression of disbelief appearing on his face:

"This... this is too exquisite! How did you manage this?"

"I simply simplified the design concept," Li Mingyuan explained,

"Traditional fuses try to solve too many problems, leading to structural complexity. My design focuses on the Hexin function, using the fewest possible parts to achieve the most reliable triggering mechanism."

Wu Zhe put down the fuse and looked at Li Mingyuan with admiration: "Chief Engineer Li, to be honest, the Military was initially skeptical of this project, thinking your design was too advanced and difficult to realize. But now it seems our worries were unnecessary."

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly: "Technology itself is neither advanced nor backward; the key lies in how to achieve design goals with existing conditions."

Upon leaving the Weapon Group, Li Mingyuan was called to attend an emergency meeting.

In the conference room, besides Minister Zhao and Zhou, there were several high-ranking Military officers he had not met before.

"Chief Engineer Li," Minister Zhao introduced, "these are comrades from the Frontline Command, here specifically to learn about the progress of the 'Divine Eagle' project."

Li Mingyuan briefly reported on the work status of each group, the technical challenges encountered, and the solutions he had proposed.

"According to the current progress, we are confident in completing the manufacturing and ground testing of the first batch of prototypes within three weeks, and conducting the first flight and weapon trials within a month."

An elderly general nodded:

"Chief Engineer Li, I just visited the various working groups, and I must say, your speed of progress is astonishing. However, I have a question: how complex is the operation of this Drone? Can our ordinary soldiers learn it?"

Li Mingyuan had been prepared: "General, I specifically designed a simplified control system; with just three to five days of training, ordinary soldiers can master basic operations. Of course, proficient operation and tactical application will require longer training."

"Three to five days?" The general raised an eyebrow, "It's that simple?"

"Yes," Li Mingyuan said affirmatively, "the control is similar to... er, similar to driving a car; one only needs to master a few basic operations to pilot the Drone to complete simple tasks. Complex flight control is handled by the automatic system, and the operator only needs to focus on navigation and attack decisions."

The meeting lasted for two hours, during which the Military Representative raised various questions, from technical details to tactical applications, all of which Li Mingyuan answered one by one.

After the meeting adjourned, Minister Zhao kept Li Mingyuan behind.

"Mingyuan, I must admit, you have shocked me once again." Minister Zhao's expression was complex,

"In less than a week, you have solved most of the technical difficulties and even completed the production of the special fuse... honestly, how did you do it?"

Li Mingyuan smiled: "Minister, sometimes the most difficult part is not the technology itself, but the limitations of one's thinking. I simply thought about the problems from different angles and found simpler solutions."

Minister Zhao looked deeply at Li Mingyuan, as if trying to see through the young man's heart:

"Alright, no matter what secrets you have, as long as it can help our country, I support you. Now, go back and rest; you look very exhausted."

Li Mingyuan nodded and walked out of the conference room.

……

The afternoon sun spilled through the windows of the workshop. Li Mingyuan stood in front of a strange machine, surrounded by over a dozen technicians from the Control Group, all of them holding their breath and staring at the equipment.

This was the "Computer-Aided Numerical Control System" that Li Mingyuan had spent three days and three nights designing. Although it looked like a pile of messy electronic components cobbled together, in Li Mingyuan's mind, it was the key to changing the entire manufacturing process.

"Everyone," Li Mingyuan patted the machine lightly, "this is our 'Electronic Brain', which will completely change the way precision parts are manufactured."

Professor Zhang pushed up his glasses and looked at the pile of equipment skeptically:

"Chief Engineer Li, if you'll pardon my bluntness, the automatic control precision you mentioned can reach 0.01 millimeters; this... seems theoretically impossible."

"It's not 'seems', it is 'absolutely' impossible." An elderly Technician shook his head, "The limit of manual operation precision is 0.05 millimeters; the 0.01 millimeters you speak of, unless..."

Li Mingyuan did not argue, but simply smiled slightly: "There is sometimes a large gap between theory and practice. Today, we shall verify it."

He walked to the console and flipped several switches; the machine began to emit a faint humming sound.

The crowd gathered around curiously, seeing several small lights flickering on the console and green lines jumping on a circular display screen.

"What is this?" someone asked.

"An Oscilloscope, used to display electrical signals," Li Mingyuan explained simply, "but I have modified it, and now it can display the contours of the parts being machined."

He turned to the metalworking bench nearby: "This lathe looks ordinary, but it has been modified by me; I have installed servo motors and Position Sensors, so it can receive electronic control signals."

The technicians looked at each other, their eyes full of doubt.

In their understanding, a machine tool was a mechanical device; how could it possibly be controlled by electronic signals?

Li Mingyuan said no more, took a Punched Card from his pocket, and carefully inserted it into a slot on the side of the machine:

"This card records the machining program, including the position, speed, and cutting depth for each step."

"Wait," Professor Zhang suddenly realized, "you mean... this machine can 'read' the instructions on the card and then automatically control the lathe to perform the machining?"

"Precisely." Li Mingyuan pressed the start button.

The lathe suddenly began to run, the cutting tool moving in an incredibly precise manner, and metal shavings splashed from the workpiece.

What was even more surprising was that no one touched the control handles during the entire process; the machine tool seemed to have a life of its own, operating precisely according to some invisible instruction.

"This... this is impossible!" An elderly Technician widened his eyes, the wrench in his hand dropping directly to the floor with a crisp sound, yet no one went to pick it up.

Everyone stared fixedly at the automatically running lathe, the expressions on their faces changing from skepticism to shock, and then to disbelief.

"My god, it really is machining according to the program..." Professor Zhang muttered to himself, his voice trembling with excitement.

Fifteen minutes later, the machine tool stopped running.